I wanted to like this book, I really did. I thought it would be a funny, entertaining love story. Maybe that was the vibe the author was going for, but it didn't really work. Poppy is a travel journalist. She was bullied at her school in Ohio and couldn't wait to leave and re-invent herself somewhere else. Alex lived across town, but because they went to different schools, they didn't meet until they attended the same college. They quickly formed a friendship and started a tradition of going on a vacation together every summer. Since they started out as poor students, their trips were very basic in the beginning. After Poppy moved to New York City and got a job at a travel magazine which paid travel expenses, their trips became more luxurious. Over the years, both Poppy and Alex have other romantic partners: Poppy dates various men while Alex has an on-again off-again relationship with a fellow teacher at the high school Poppy attended back in Ohio. While Poppy couldn't wait to leave Ohio, Alex felt tied down there by obligations to his widowed father and younger brothers.

The story alternates between long, drawn-out descriptions of various trips the two took over the years, with chapters devoted to a current trip they are on now. Apparently, something really awful and earth-shattering happened on their last trip together, two years ago in Croatia (teased throughout the story, but not much of a shocker when finally revealed). They haven't spoken since, so when Poppy impulsively reaches out to Alex by text, she's stunned when he responds. Even more surprising, they arrange to travel to Palm Springs together to attend the wedding of Alex's brother.

So back and forth and around and around we go. It's obvious that Poppy and Alex have feelings for each other, but my gosh! They're just so different! I mean Alex is quiet while Poppy is an extrovert, Alex is in Ohio while Poppy never wants to go back there . . . how could this relationship possibly work? Honestly, I really had a hard time trying to work up enough enthusiasm to finish the book. It's much, much too long and, for all the travel, not a lot happens. Not my cup of tea!

OMG I AM SWOOOOOOOOONING!
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Wow. Okay. I was honestly skeptical going into this book, I worried it would be way over-hyped. I'm already such a snobby snob when it comes to romance and am way over-critical (I admit it) but the truth is, I am in LOVE with this book. Truly, fully, irrevocably in love! And honestly, I've loved all of Emily Henry's novels so I don't know why I had any doubt?
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People We Meet on Vacation has ALL the When Harry Met Sally Vibes which is one of my favorite movies, ever, so loving this book is inevitable. Henry does a great job capturing those vibes, but not re-writing the original; PWMOV has its own flair, witty banter, and scintillating love scenes. IT ALSO HAS ALL THE FEELS and if you know anything about me, you know I love me some feels!
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I loved the vacation element of the story and getting to travel with Poppy and Alex. I also loved the self-discovery each went through, navigating the world and finding what it is that makes them happy.
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MUST READ! YOU ALL MUST READ! NOW!

People We Meet on Vacation is a novel about a wanderer and a homebody, and how their friendship changes through a dozen years of summer trips.

Poppy and Alex have been best friends since college, despite being an odd couple pairing. Poppy wears loud clothes and desires adventure, and Alex is a sweet grump who has PTA-dad vibes. Despite their notable differences, they share an intimate friendship, unsullied by romantic intentions - ninety-five percent of the time.

Every summer, Alex and Poppy have taken trips together, at first on a shoestring budget. Then, Poppy is hired by R+R, a travel magazine, and their vacations change. But Poppy knows their friendship never will, and she anticipates every getaway, looking forward to time spent in Alex’s company and the fun they have together. Then something happens. And Poppy and Alex don’t speak for two years.

Burned out and feeling lost, Poppy is caught off guard when a friend asks her when she was last happy. The answer is two years earlier, on her last trip with Alex. She doesn’t know if they can recapture the magic of their friendship, but she’s willing to try. Can one more vacation fix what happened between them, or will her most important relationship remain fractured?

I love, love, love Alex. He’s such a sweetie; kind, generous, and has a huge heart. Following a family tragedy, he had to mature at a young age and be a parental figure to his younger brothers. He’s a teacher, a cat dad, and wants to be husband and father; he feels real, and his actions and feelings feel true to his character at every turn. I would recommend this book for Alex alone!  There’s a strong ring of authenticity to Poppy as well - even though at times she can seem like something of a millennial stereotype - and her family and her feelings toward them have a lot of weight and really add to the reader’s understanding of her.  In fact, all the characters are incredibly strong, even the ones we meet only briefly. The story lends itself to a large cast, and each voice feels authentic, each character fully-formed. Character relationships are also very well-developed; Poppy and Alex have a really raw, emotional connection. There’s also the fact that the chemistry between them is PALPABLE and very sexy. Their relationship is a tender, aching love that is slowly revealed throughout the story and events from the past, and present.

Though I was initially skeptical about the switching between time periods which forms the novel’s basic structure, it really works for the story and it feels organic to the narrative as it unfolds. It also increases tension for the reader as the history of the characters unwinds and small details come into focus.

The tone of the book took me a little by surprise, as it was quite heavy at times. I kind of expected some light angst, but the book has a really deep emotional core. It still has some wonderfully funny moments, but I was definitely a little taken aback by how intense it is. I also found the pacing to be a little off as the story enters its third act. The resolution doesn’t feel as final as I’d like, either, with some of the roadblocks seemingly remaining unresolved.

People We Meet on Vacation surprised me in a lot of ways, and while I had some issues with it, I would still definitely recommend it. Some of my favorite tropes are at work in this book - opposites attract and friends to lovers, just to name two. It’s a great read, and will definitely satisfy anyone who loves a good getaway.

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Rating: 4.5
I love how the author alternated the chapters between the present setting and flashbacks of past vacations that Poppy and Alex had. It may sound confusing, but really, the flashbacks help you understand the inside jokes that the characters would mention later in the book. This slow-burn friends-to-lovers’ story is like a mash up of my all-time favorite romcom movies. The banter, jokes, and the way their friendship and chemistry mix perfectly well despite them having opposites personalities, are just too cute. What I love most about this book is that Poppy and Alex’s relationship vibrates love and acceptance which makes any reader feel comfortable and right at home. I cannot count the times when my heart ached or when I absent-mindedly smiled while reading this novel. The story pacing and how the author wrapped up the ending was perfectly satisfying. This book was so good that it did not take me long to finish because I could not put it down even if I needed to.

This book had been on my anticipated reads list and Emily Henry did not disappoint! Now that I am done reading this, I wish I could turn back the clock and relive the spark, adventure, and heart aches again for the first time. I recommend this book💛 especially for people who enjoy the movies “Love, Rosie” and “When Harry Met Sally”, you would enjoy this one. Thank you so much for gifting me this E-ARC @prhinternational and @berkleyromance @berkleypub @netgalley #partner

Emily Henry’s novel Beach Read was one of my favorite books of 2020. It was a five-star read for me and I adored everything about it. I therefore had very high expectations going into her new novel, People We Meet on Vacation. I’m thrilled to report that Henry not only met my expectations, but she really hit it out of the park.

People We Meet on Vacation follows Poppy and Alex. Poppy and Alex both come from a small town in Ohio and that, aside from the fact that they attended the same college, which is where they met and became best friends, is pretty much the only thing they have in common. Poppy is a travel writer and a quirky extrovert, while Alex is a high school teacher and a highly reserved introvert. They are truly the most unlikely of friends, but as the old saying goes, opposites attract and their friendship just works. They have not only stayed friends long after graduating from college, but every year they get together and take an epic vacation. That is, until two years ago when something happened to completely derail their friendship to the point where they stopped speaking to each other. Poppy desperately wants her best friend back and reaches out to Alex with an offer she hopes he won’t refuse.

I fell in love with both Poppy and Alex right away. Henry has the story unfold through a dual timeline where in the present, we watch Poppy and Alex take a trip together to try to rekindle their friendship and move forward, while in the past, we get lots of flashbacks of Poppy and Alex’s first meeting, their friendship growing, scenes from those amazing yearly vacations, etc. I loved watching the two of them interact because 1) the banter is hilarious, 2) it’s clear they have intense chemistry, and 3) they really bring out the best in each other. I was utterly heartbroken to learn that something had happened to fracture their relationship and I shared Poppy’s desperation to fix it. I was also shipping them so hard to become more than friends because they were truly just adorable together in the flashback scenes.

I don’t want to spoil anything so I’m just going to say if I had to compare this book to any other book, I’d say it has a similar vibe to Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren. If you enjoy a good friends-to-lovers story filled with lovable characters and hilarious banter, you are in for a treat with People We Meet on Vacation. This one left me with a full heart and happy tears in my eyes.

This was a net galley read that I picked up strictly based on the blurb and have found a new author that I want to read more from!

People we Meet on Vacation is told strictly from Poppy’s point of view, but Author Henry does an excellent job of pulling us into Alex’s head as well. We see these two unlikely friends over a period of 12 years, alternating between current event and previous summers that they have spent together.

This was a well written and emotional story. Both Poppy and Alex have things they have struggled with and the bond they have in their friendship is one that definitely gives the warm and fuzzies. These are characters that I truly enjoyed and found myself rooting for them to figure out what they need from each other and life.

I appreciated that Ms Henry allowed both Alex and Poppy to be vulnerable as they experienced their growing friendship and then the ups and downs as they navigate relationships, distance, honesty, and more. I will definitely be looking to read more from this author.

Poppy and Alex met in college and took a vacation together every summer, no matter where their lives took them. After 10 years of friendship and vacations, Croatia happened. Now, two years later, Poppy will do anything to set their friendship back on course. I couldn’t put the book down and loved every minute of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.

The thing I miss most during this pandemic is travelling. I love seeing new places, eating new foods, and meeting new people. So I was very drawn to travel writer Poppy, one of the main characters in, People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. She has my dream job as a professional travel writer! But when she, herself, goes on vacation, she travels on the cheap with her male friend from college, Alex. This novel is an ode to the movie, When Harry Met Sally. Can male and female friends be "just friends"? Given how deeply they connect with each other, you can guess where this goes. This was a really fun, romantic novel, and the perfect summer read.

What I Liked:

Vacation Theme:

This book is a celebration of that freedom we all feel on vacation. Vacations are an escape from our "real" lives. We eat all the food we've denied ourselves, laugh more easily, and flirt with strangers. I liked that there were a variety of different types of vacations. Some of Poppy and Alex's trips were super touristy, where they see every kitschy tourist trap and do every stereotypical vacation activity one can imagine. Other trips were more about relaxing and getting to know people. Each time they met they learned to appreciate each other more and more. They were really good together. But, if they were around each other every day, would they still get along so well? Or was the magic of their relationship based on the ease one creates on vacation?

Characters:

Poppy is a woman who knows what she wants. She strives for the freedom of travel, and doesn't want anything that will tie her down, particularly having children. Alex is the exact opposite. He craves having the ideal family life with a wife and children. As the book progresses, we learn the reasons behind this. But they also have a lot in common. They come from the same area of Ohio, share a similar sense of humor, and are open to learn from each other.

Of the supporting characters, I really liked Poppy's glamorous boss, Swapna. This is a strong woman who mentors Poppy in her career, even though she is rather intimidating. I loved a scene where Swapna tells Poppy to stop apologizing for missing work, pointing out that her male colleagues would never feel the need to do that. We all need this kind of support in our professional life!

Throughout the book, Poppy and Alex meet a variety of wonderful characters on their trips. Shopkeepers who give them discounts for pretending to be newlyweds, friendly older couples enjoying life, as well as free spirits, dot the landscape of their journeys. This is one of the joys of travelling that I love.

Story:

The story is a celebration of friendship, travel and romance. Poppy and Alex's friendship is unlikely, at first. But over the years, from college, to first jobs and first romances to becoming more established, Poppy and Alex grow to depend on each other. Both of them are attracted to each other, but they also don't want to ruin their friendship (Harry and Sally, meet Alex and Poppy). Over the years the sexual tension builds as they see each other through other relationships. There are misunderstandings, and almost declarations that keep the reader wondering (hoping) if they'll ever get together.

But the story also brought up some questions for Poppy and Alex that were uncomfortable. Why is Alex so attached to his family? Why does Poppy feel the need to get as far away from their small town as possible? Are they each other's escape, or are they each other's destiny?

What I Was Mixed About:

Sex on the Page:

Sorry, but I am not a fan of graphic sex scenes in books. That's just my personal preference. I think since the whole story is a build upon , "will they, or won't they", it was understandable that there would be the big sex moment. I still loved this book. But, if you're looking for a "clean" romance, you might want to skip this novel.

This is the first book I read from this author and now I am a fan! I will now, go back to read her other books. People We Meet on Vacation is by far my favorite romance book of 2021. There's nothing sweeter and angsty to follow the story of two best friends, who are total opposite, slowly figure out they in love with each other. Soulmates. It may have taken years, but it was worth it!

Poppy and Alex are the definition of opposite attracts. The yin and yang. Salt and pepper. Ever since they met in college, these two were best friends, summer travel buddies. Even though the dated others over the years, they continued to have a platonic and fun-filled summer adventure. What I loved about this book is how the author takes you through the present and past years of their friendship.

These two characters were real and genuine. This author made me want to best friends with Poppy and find myself an Alex. This entire read, you just want to root for these two to find their happiness with each other. I loved their journey every summer and want to travel just like them.

A fantastic rom-com read that will have you swoon and dream of having your best guy friend turn into your one true love!

Every now and then, I read a book and wish I could be best friends with its author. Dear reader, I wish I could be best friends with Emily Henry.

I loved Beach Read and went into :People We Meet on Vacation almost worried that I would feel as if I was being unfaithful by falling for the new book on the block. But Emily Henry grabbed me and did not let go, not that I ever wanted that to happen.

From the opening prologue, you know that Poppy and Alex are meant for each other, but they're so determined to be best friends that they can't--they won't--realize just how romantically meant for each other they are. Then we skip ahead a couple years and learn that fractures have occurred. Poppy has lost her professional groove and believes she needs Alex to help her get it back. Back when they were friends, they'd gone on a dozen road trips together, and Poppy wants Alex to join her for one more.

You hold your breath as you read these chapters, both desperate to find out what caused them to fall apart and frightened to do so. You want them to rediscover what they adore about each other, even as you worry that all they will see are flaws. These two are about as different as khakis and studded leather ... on the surface. Where it counts, though, they hold fundamental truths in common.

Emily Henry crafts a story that makes you laugh, makes your heart feel full, and makes you swoon over the sweet romance. She also rips your heart out and stomps on it with spiked cleats. One scene made me cry so hard, I had a headache for two days. (That's a compliment, by the way. I was so fully vested in these characters that I hurt for them.)

The problem with this book is that it makes me want more from Emily Henry. I want her to break my heart again because I know she knows just how to put it back together.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the sophomore book by Emily Henry. 5 stars for this book and a crown for the new queen of the romantic comedy!

Alex and Poppy met the first day of college as complete opposites. Their friendship bloomed on a shared car ride home to their hometown in Ohio. They discovered that their opposite personalities just fit each other to make that one perfect friend you can't live without. The friendship bloomed over their summer vacation each year - a trip that was part of Poppy's job at a travel magazine and fit perfectly with Alex's summers off teaching job. But one mistake on a vacation caused everything to go wrong in their friendship. Poppy is struggling with her job, her purpose, her life and is convinced that everything will be okay if she gets Alex to go on one more vacation with her.

Told in Poppy's voice from their current summer trip to past vacations, you will fall in love with these characters. This is just such a fun book - I loved the witty bantering between Alex and Poppy and you will feel like you've been on vacation yourself after vicariously visiting all these locations. This is a must read - in fact, once you are done with it, you'll want to escape into it again! Highly recommended!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I'm a big fan of Emily Henry's work, and PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION did not disappoint. Henry has created well-developed characters and set them traveling the world - which is a welcome antidote to all of us who are homebound due to the pandemic. The plot works. The characters are real, and although they are flawed, they act like adults. I enjoyed this novel even more than BEACH READ.

Poppy Wright is weird. She likes being weird, likes taking the uncharted path, but she's also secretly self-conscious that her weirdness makes her unloveable. Alex Nilsen is not weird. At least, not outwardly. He's a straight-laced, academic homebody. But beneath the veneer of control that he has carefully constructed, he's a hot mess of emotions. Poppy and Alex find their way into an unlikely friendship where the only thing they seem to have in common is the fun they have on their summer trips. The only thing...unless you count the simmering attraction they suppress and the deep, unspoken love they share.

I always appreciate it when writers of contemporary novels create characters that are believable and not annoying. I have a wider tolerance for cave-man or damsel-in-distress archetypes in the historical romances I read; they just seem more in keeping with the times. But modern day romances? I get very annoyed with bad behavior. That means contemporary romances are a mixed bag for me, most of the time. Fortunately, in the case of PEOPLE, Henry has done a remarkably good job of creating characters I recognize and making them mostly behave as adults should. I know people like Poppy. I am partly Alex. Without going into pages of backstory, Henry makes us understand what makes them tick. Their histories are believable; it makes sense that they are who they are. And watching them decide on their future was truly a pleasure.

PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION is a funny, insightful romance with characters you can root for. Definitely put it on your summer reading list!

This is a perfect vacation/getaway book! I loved the friends to lovers trope! Poppy and Alex were such likable characters even though they were basically totally opposites their friendship complemented each other. Poppy being a quirky, live in the moment type of person and Alex being a calculated, laid back personality meet during freshman year orientation. Afterwards they soon become best friends and pledge to spend every summer together on a summer vacation! Even after they end up moving several miles away from each other, they still looked forward to their summer vacations! However with Poppy starting to realize she may actually have feelings for Alex and vice versa, things start to get a little bit awkward between them. But they still try to maintain their friendship throughout the years even while dating other people, however on one summer vacation things escalate and they end up not talking with each other for two years. Feeling lonely and heartbroken, Poppy decides the one thing missing from her life is Alex and their summer vacations where she was always so carefree and she could be herself! So she concocts this plan to have a perfect summer vacation just for them!

One of the main reasons why I love Emily Henry's books so much is because she does a fantastic job with the witty banter between characters! She knows how to pull out the character's personalities so well in her books and make you root for them!

This is a sweet but also sharp friends to lovers second chance rom-com. Alex and Poppy are an odd couple separated as much by location- he's in Ohio and she's in New York when not traveling the world- as by attitude. She's all out there and he's more restrained (he reads a book at the bar and worries that he's not making enough eye contact with the bartender). They've been spending a week together each summer until...well, no spoilers about what happened in Croatia. Don't worry- it wasn't bad. So they've been estranged and Poppy really really misses him so she convinces him to do it one more tine. You can guess, perhaps, what's going to happen. This is really trope-y but it's also really fun. The characters are good (I also liked Poppy's editor- I can see her!) even if Poppy sometimes goes over the top and Henry has a nice storytelling style. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A fun read to make you smile.

I was so excited to receive this book. I loved her past work and this did not disappoint! The characters were so well established, and the book didn't feel like anything else I've ever read. Loved it!

Emily Henry has again written a beautiful love story. The tale of Poppy & Alex's travels will have you turning pages as you root for these two best friends to fall for one another.

I plowed through this!!! Super. charming and distinct from Beach Read, which was a concern of mine going in. Poppy and Alex are messier, more selfish, have more going on. But still, I was engaged, it worked for me.

I purchased this book through Book of the Month and shortly after received it through NetGalley for review.
I enjoyed Emily Henry’s last book, Beach Read, but her latest is even better. Alex and Poppy are such well-written characters who always come back to one another despite the ways life might pull them in different directions. Emily’s writing is detailed, funny, and emotional and the story is told so vividly. This is a great book for anyone looking for an escape and a reminder about the importance of the people in our lives. 4.25/5.

People We Meet on Vacation (Emily Henry)

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for a digital ARC.

I love the way the author tells a story. As I really enjoyed 'Beach Read' last year, I was very interested in reading this one. She didn't disappoint. It was an excellent feel-good read with humour and romantic tension. Just what we need after the year we've endured.

#PeopleWeMeetOnVacation #NetGalley

I really enjoyed Emily Henry's Beach Read, but I absolutely adored People We Meet on Vacation. If I could give it more than 5 out of 5 stars, I would.

People We Meet on Vacation had a lot of the elements I love in a romance novel. I loved the slow burn of Poppy and Alex's friendship to romance. I loved the dual timeline of their present vacation and all of the ones they took in the past. They had such a sweet friendship.

Alex is one of my new favorite characters and new book boyfriends. He was so sweet and so supportive of Poppy.

It was so interesting to see all of the vacations they took over the years and how they changed when Poppy was working for the magazine, but not for the better.

The friends to lovers trope was so well done and I loved the only one bed too!

I'm so glad I preordered this so I will have a physical copy. I can't wait to see what Emily Henry writes next!

I will update with my link as soon as I share on my bookstagram page.